The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage #2

Artists: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz

The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage #1 was everything I hoped it would be. The Cowan and Sienkiewicz art was otherworldly and abstract in a way that felt entirely unique. The writing held a strong grip on the storytelling quirks of the original book, but the infusion of Lemire’s style set it apart. Issue two doesn’t qualify as “everything I want”, but it does manage to give me what I didn’t know I wanted.

This issue takes a hard left from the first, not just in terms of plot, but in genre as well. This is a western. A Question book that takes place in the old west is certainly not what I was expecting, but it’s not unwelcome. In fact, this issue was refreshing because of it. At times I forgot what I was actually reading, and I just got lost in a world that’s often uncharted in comics. You don’t see westerns anymore because they don’t sell, but this issue is proof that it doesn’t mean they can’t still be great. The only way to get one into the hands of the readers is to, frankly, trick them into buying it. In this case, I’m happy to be tricked. It’s unpredictable and puts a unique spin on a story that could easily play it safe.

That doesn’t mean the book forgets where it came from. The back half focuses more on the Question side of things, but that’s where it loses me a bit. It takes a turn that comes off as very abstract and undefinable, which is interesting, but it left me feeling a bit dumb. It’s natural to feel frustration when a piece of fiction runs circles around you, and while it wasn’t indecipherable I certainly did run into it a bit. Though it’s important to note that this is not due to a lack of talent on the creators’ parts; it’s a choice. The book is intentionally vague and invokes, pardon the pun, questions. The tool’s valid, though your mileage may vary on how compelling that is.

What’s not in question is the talent of the art team. Cowan and Sienkiewicz are a match made in heaven. Or, perhaps hell, if the contents of this issue are any indication. This is a tough read. It’s a very dark and heavy tale, and the artists pull no punches. Sienkiewicz’s horror roots are on full display and coupled with Cowan’s magnificent storytelling, there are pages in here that just hurt to read in the best way. It’s truly effecting and depressing stuff. Sienkiewicz’s scratchy, imprecise inks already excel at throwing the reader off-balance, and to see them used to such great effect here is astounding. It’s the kind of thing that easily impresses upon me the inker’s role in storytelling, and also has me lamenting their ever-decreasing presence in the industry.

While not as specific to my tastes as the first issue, this is another stellar entry. It’s a heavy diversion from the last and looks to be so again in the next. Cowan and Sienkiewicz manage to make a tough read even tougher with their raw and unfiltered art. This is a great comic, unlike almost any other on the stands right now.